By vetstreet.com | Pets – Sat, Apr 26, 2014 8:35 AM EDT
Q. Do dogs know how to swim naturally? If not, how can I teach my dog? She's a Border Collie mix, and she gets very hot when I take her to the lake with us.
A. Dogs will naturally start "dog paddling" when they find themselves in water, but that doesn't mean that they can stay afloat for any length of time, that they like being in the water, or that they can safely swim.
Dogs who can't swim - though they may try their best - are typically those with large, heavy chests in relation to their hindquarters, and they often have short muzzles. These dogs may swim well enough to splash about a little under supervision while wearing a life vest, but that's about it.
The most extreme example of these breeds, the Bulldog, is so poorly built for water survival that breeders and rescue groups often require a home check to ensure that a pool is safely fenced off, and that an emergency monitor is used to alert those inside the house when something, such as a child or dog, breaks the surface of the water. Bulldogs typically sink like rocks.
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